Youssouf FOFANA - 5 alternatives to Moisés Caicedo for Chelsea's midfield (5/5)
Youssouf FOFANA - 5 alternatives to Moisés Caicedo for Chelsea's midfield (5/5)
A team of Fofanas
Time to conclude the “5 alternatives to Moises Caicedo” series with a focus on a Monaco-based Parisian in Youssouf Fofana.
France are back to back World Cup finalists, but still have a considerable amount of their current top players having had to break through train windows to get back in.
Not everything has an explanation, but sometimes it’s a combination of a very dense talent pool, different approaches to handle opportunities at a young age in French’s talent pathway, and also clubs realizing a tad late that they may have been failing to nurture what makes a top football team ticking.
Namely, dynamism, box-to-box instincts and a knack for defending.
Esperance Paris 19e and sparing chances
Strasbourg but no strass
Poland of the free, and the home of the brave
Milieu boîte à boîte
Monac(h)oarding of talent
No curtain call needed on the curtailed season: 2019-20
Tchouaméni - Fofana as Ligue 1’s meat grinder: 2020-21
Turning midfield upside down: 2021-22
Another (non) Monaconsistent season: 2022-23
Best of both worlds
(Yes, but is he a baller)
Yes, but can he defend
Yes but can he attack
Fofanallez les bleus
Data Room
My oPiniOn
iS hE TiEmOuE bAkAyOkO 2.O ?
Espérance Paris 19 and sparing chances
Youssouf Fofana’s trajectory followed the standard early stages of the talent pathway.
Born in 1999, he started football in Paris’ 19th district in the small local club Espérance Paris 19e from U6 to U14.
Some of his team mates at Esperance Paris also made a name for themselves: Amine Harit (Marseille, 1997) and Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen, 1999), Nicolas Pépé (1995, Arsenal), Georges-Kévin Nkoudou (1995, Beşiktaş), Evan Ndicka (1999, Eintracht)
In the 2010 “93 Cup” (District U11 Cup) that took place at the Stade de France, Youssouf Fofana’s Paris Esperance 19e team (1999 generation) which included Moussa Diaby and Yahia Fofana (Le Havre, Angers) was trailing 4-1 against Paris Solitaires (that share the same facility) team that included Antoine Bernede (PSG, Salzburg), Brahima Doukansy (Niort), Evan Ndicka (Frankfurt).
To eventually win 6-4.
Moussa Diaby scored 4, and Youssouf Fofana scored 2.
Well worth mentioning it to this day at every other media availability Fofana gets involved in, but who would blame him.
Fofana got into one of France’s excellence centre, the famous INF Clairefontaine (beyond the south west on the map) from age 13 to 15, still playing for Espérance Paris 19e then Red Star for his U15 season.
However, he didn't get signed by a pro club, which happens to roughly 30% of the promotion every, something that was a welcome wake-up call from his own admission.
See the Big Ben article about the French talent pathway. From darkest middle earth France to Monaco.
Or the Lucas Gourna one, a south east-Paris based player who was at the Reims talent centre (East France)
Youssouf Fofana then got back closer to home at JA Drancy at U16 level, then was even asked to see if the grass was greener in the U17 shadow team.
This isually the moment where players who felt that the train has left the station without them, start focusing more on studies and the Baccalaureate (GSCE).
Drancy is one of the biggest Amateur clubs from the Paris area: none less than four players who had a spell there Youssouf Fofana (FRA), Nader Ghandri (TUN), Raphael Guerreiro (POR), Jean-Pierre Nsame (CAM) featured at the 2022 World Cup.
Crystal Palace’s Jean Philippe Mateta also got poached by Chateauroux later than most - possibly after kicking their academy team’s ass with Drancy U19s.
Mateta, who got signed by OL as “medical replacement” for 4 million, outside of the transfer window, from a 3rd division club. Train windows, and breaking in.
Youssouf Fofana played U17 DHR (second regional tier), U19 DH (first regional tier) in Paris Regional league. This means he hasn’t been featuring at National level.
Paris Regional league is still a fierce environment - and golmine of talent.
Fofana’s Drancy U19s won the 2016-17 U19 Division d’Honneur (Regional 1) and got promoted to National U19 for the season after.
Strasbourg scouts saw him play as a 18 year-old midfielder, in U19 Regional League in January 2017.
After a succesful trial, he was finally offered an aspiring professional contract (“Stagiaire pro”) which is one rank above the “Apprenticeship” and just below full pro terms.
The initial idea was to sign him up on “convention” that is the season-long basic contract pro clubs give when they take a chance on an amateur player (simply contractual protection, with a few quid for pocket money).
Strasbourg but no strass
Fofana played his U19 season as a nailed on starter for RC Strasbourg’s Senior B team in National 3 (third tier in the pyramid) in 2017/2018 under François Keller (Academy director and brother of Marc Keller, RC Strasbourg’s Chairman)
Fofana was also but training about 50-60 times with the professional squad
Strasbourg offered him a pro contract in September 2018 after a couple of cameos in Ligue 1 (that trigger a contract).
Everyone’s got his own journey. There’s no one size fits all. But setbacks are also part of the making of footballers.
French footballers make sacrifices at an early age to join Excellence centre, and hardly play in sanitised leagues.
Half of the games at U17-U19 National level include trying to get anything out of a budget Sarriball brand of football display in the 3G pitch like the one pictured above, against amateur teams setting an ambush to turn the game into a warzone.
Regional league? Make that 100% of the opponents setting ambush in caged pitches.
Sometimes (sometimes), players who get back in the pro circuit at 18, breaking through the kitchen’s window, have an extra determination to succeed; bordering on extra freshness.
That is because 6-8 years being conditioned to win the very important U14-U19 leagues (and local derby) and also every Easter weekend 128 team International Tournament involving Real Madrid’s 14th team and Red Star’s (because there’s always Red Star teams) can be draining footballers when they arrive to the fringes of the first team.
That is to say, compared to players who join (sometimes back) the pro circuit one year before being eligible for a first team début.
That’s not to say that retro-engineering players’ pathways allows to manufacture success at the other end (not every regional U19 wonder will make a pro); but a welcome reminder to keep the door open so that everyone has a legitimate chance to try again.
Clubs all waffle about “process” and “smart strategies” (or wonder how Brentford seemingly split the atom) but only revert to “late second chance scouting" (16-19 years old) scouting when there’s no change money left.
Or that they really got their ass kicked by “that hell of a player” at U17-U19 national league. That pro clubs are swift to poach and tag them with “homegrown” for the very important 18 month they had them in house.
Youssouf Fofana: second ball, or second chance, he’s going to take it.
Hooray football
Fofana started to feature in Ligue 1 from January 2019 onwards under Thierry Laurey
But he also made the absolute most of the opportunities (see?) granted to to feature in the Coupe de la Ligue, which is the ugly lemon zest of a tinpot trophy that the
35-professionals-under-contract-on-average French clubs were usually too thick to take seriously.
Despite an easy way to win an useful fruit bowl and qualify for Europe.
Thick, Strasbourg was not, and they qualified for the Europa League preliminary round (knocked out by Frankfurt though and didn’t make it to the group stage).
May the 1994-2020 Coupe de la Ligue rest in peace, peaceful as French conditioning coaches not having to worry about the daunting process to train a team to play twice a week. UEFA Coefficient? What’s that? Come on You Irons.
Working better or root for West Ham to beat Alkmaar?
We’ll take “praise the Perfidious Albion” and merci beaucoup.
Youssouf Fofana didn’t play in the final that Strasbourg won after a penalty shootout, with Ibrahima Sissoko and regista Sanjin Prcic preferred behind (french Alexis MacAllister) Adrien Thomasson (sort of a do it all 8-10).
Strasbourg ended the 2018/19 season at 11th place with 16 draws (!)
Also won and lost 11.
Proverbial mid table (or as French call it: “le ventre mou” - chubby underbelly)
Poland of the free and the home of the brave
Youssouf Fofana concluded his season by featuring for French U20 at the 2019 World Cup - that was held in Poland.
Here’s him against Panama, finding a (tax) haven of space inside the box as a third man runner. Scouts go brr
Fofana’s use of arms is a prevalent feature of his game and will be a particular focus on several plays being broken down in both attack and defence.
The “double separation” inside the box is something that wouldn’t be far of a proper 9's game as well: stay outside of the defender’s field of vision, and dart for the cross once it’s hit.
Fofana scored a good goal against Saudi Arabia, with a weak foot volley lashed out from the edge of the box.
Preparatory steps to come alive just before the rebound, don’t look like much but that’s gold as far as scouting midfielders for the Prem. (or anywhere else really).
Adjust the footing to have the right foot well positioned: level with the ball
Wait for the moment the ball overcomes the apex (highest point of trajectory) - and starts going down: this is the moment where you need to hit the volley.
true unleashing of the left leg to lash the volley. Requires a combination of strength to maintain sections of the body and also “relaxation” for a fluid mition
A stick man player (or stiff like a starched player) would never be able to hit a clean volley with his weak foot especially across his body.
Unfortunately, France crashed out in Round of 16 of the 2019 World Cup to the USMNT, despite being 2-1 after 55’, eventually losing 2-3.
Poland of the free to go home early.
Fofana however shared the pitch with a certain… Moussa Diaby he kicked his first footballs with in Paris’ 19th district pitches. How cool is that. Started from the bottom etc…
Bit of a mixed bag (as often is), with the likes of Kamara, Fofana, Diaby and Gouiri, Todibo, Ib. Diallo, Ndicka having broke through at top level. Lafont ahead of Meslier between the sticks.
And Cuisance, Alioui, Zagadou, Yacine Adli sort of not having lived up yet to the (high back then) expectations they had on their shoulders.
Milieu boîte à boîte
If you’re familiar with the French based player litmus test presented in the BIG BEN article, then you know that anyone who makes more than three touches of the ball in a row in France enters the dangerous zone of “fucking get rid of it” that scales (4) on the acidic scale.
Which mean that the player has a good chance of:
Being good
Taking great care to not listen to PE teacher by the book touch restriction nonsense the might come across at any point in their footballing curriculum
Which is two conditions Youssouf Fofana fulfils.
Incidentally, Thierry Laurey’s YOLOball at Strasbourg was definitely entertaining for one thing and way more open than you’d expect a mid table French team of being. (usually: let’s protect the one point we’re given at kick off).
No control, just vibes, diamond 442, with 58 for and 48 against in 2018/2019.
Fofana’s season really started at the end of october 2019, after picking up an unfortunate 8-match layoff due to an ankle injury sustained after 20’ of the opening game of the season.
He scored a good goal against OL from the right side of a midfield diamond.
Gets in the penalty box - and the “should be scoring more of these” territory.
A right wing with right back Kenny Lala (5 goals, 10 assists in 18/19) and Youssouf Fofana would give a very gentle shade of golden / ocre in (5); F*cking stay in position
(meaning they’re both good)
Monac(h)oarding of talent
No curtain call needed on the curtailed season
Youssouf Fofana was once again talent spotted, this time by Monaco in a 15 million transfer which is still Strasbourg’s club record transfer.
He joins the Principality’s club in January 2020 as yet another Uber Eats regen (Conforama back then - home furniture).
E-book pulitzer prize Robert Moreno still tinkers around with Monaco’s peculiar options, namely Jovetic, Bakayoko on loan, Cesc Fàbregas, Golovin, Adrien Silva.
Definitely way more tinkering than when desperately trying to hold onto the Spanish NT job when his friend had to take a step back, for the reasons we know.
The first two plays on the official highlights against Angers are interesting for the way Fofana vacates space in order to organise himself room to look for options ahead of him.
Just reliable, “all action” central midfielder stuff, able to find separation for himself.
The decision to shoot from distance is what Fofana does from time to time, the skills and intent to do that is definitely there.
Scoring this kind of goal from range seems like dreams like I always had
Could be, should be making me glad if he could score more of those.
Of course it’s a stretch and not lacking some nerve to mention Fofana in the Lampard conversation; but he’s definitely giving some of the same energy when shooting from range.
In that stump of a half 2019-2020 season, Youssouf Fofana features predominantly at base DM in something of a diamond-ish after a couple of appearances at right-midfield-ish (diamond and 442).
My (not) regista gives Cesc Fàbregas’ quality assists from the midway line.
Fofana displayed an eye for the final pass, with two assists:
The first one against Angers features some of Fofana’s very academic “backwards steps” separation to roll out wide, then checking the run and gifting an assist to Jovetic for a goal reminiscent of Van Persie’s diving header in 2014.
And the ball mastery involved to lift a low driven pass is really elite academy-quality.
The second assist Fofana delivered early 2020 at Nîmes also involves a familiar character, the one who’s part of the (Conforama?) furniture for longer than people are willing to remember.
Badiashile, 2001-born, features in his second full season at the time (just back from a 8 game stint on the bench, because Robert Moreno is the only coach who didn’t rate Badiashile. Decisions, decisions).
The interesting thing about Youssouf Fofana’s involvement is that he’s once again in a “3rd man” position to receive the flick from Badiashile’s trademark needle pass.
One can of course “happen” to have a lose ball fall in his lap, but being at the ready in an open position in relation to a team mate is more than wandering around the pitch. There’s thinking beforehands, namely not to squeeze on the ball carrier’s space and think one or two passes ahead (which is the trademark of the good midfielders)
There’s also a fine line between treating the ball like a hot potato and bouncing it to the nearest player, and actually able to deliver an inch-perfect through pass (converted with talent by Ben Yedder) with keeping that (poor) flick under control, bouncing the defender away with the hip (it’s bumper cars) then slide it in behind whilst off balance.
“Pressure resistant” players can play with an elephant piggybacking, and Fofana definitely is one of them, with a combination of anticipation, timing and strength.
Ligue 1 being curtailed (and not restarting) in March 2020 did put an end to the season, with Monaco firmly stranded in mid-table mediocrity:
9th place with 0 goal difference after 28 matchdays (11 wins).
Monaco said No to Moreno leading them any longer.
Tchouaméni - Fofana as Ligue 1’s meat grinder
Coming Niko Kovač, taking charge of Monaco ahead of 2020/21.
Monaco had to find their footing, initially experimenting with Fàbregas or Florentino Luis in 433 behind Tchouaméni and Fofana (who both joined in January 2020).
Then Kovač settled for his flexible 442.
It’s not that there was one “sitter” and one “free 8” but it is right that Fofana was probably doing the lateral covering and Tchouaméni more the “box to box” albeit both could situationally do what the game required.
The amount of grass both were able to cover in and out of possession was tremendous, so was the physical conditioning and coordination to switch from 442-ish to 352-ish (player movements matter, telephone numbers formation don’t)
more detail on Kovac’s Monaco in the Big Ben piece
Turning midfield upside down
Monaco changed managers midway through the 2021-22 season (again; as to why, more detail in the Badiashile article).
Monaco had a rough start of the season (after crashing out the CL to De Zerbi’s Shakhtar). How related was it to the addition of questionable signings being suggested/invited to make the team on week ends like Jean Lucas (a whatever role in midfield), Boadu, Nübel, Jacobs we wouldn’t say. To an extent academy graduate Eliott Matazo as well, whose steady performances at destroyer/base midfield might start to leave onlookers waiting for more.
Kovac was also pushing Youssouf Fofana to do more in attack (especially when paired with Matazo), not in terms of learning new skills, but probably expecting to start racking up numbers without forgetting the other side of the job.
It is then fair to point out that when manager push players, things happen.
No reason to make a big deal out of it. Fofana was subbed after 37’ at Clermont, feeling clearly would up (not just because Clermont’s stadium is windy).
I wanted to change two or three players but it wouldn’t have made sense because we were still in the first half. I brought Youssouf off because we were slightly too open in the middle of the pitch, I will show him on video. Middle is the most important area. It’s like chess, this area dictates the game’s outcome. We had a chat with Youssouf, he knows what I expect from him, these are things that happen.
Niko Kovac clear-out post game comment at Cler-mont
I don’t feel like expanding on this. Mourinho once brought Matic on and off in the same game and yet here they are from club to club
Fofana wasn’t found out, nor forgetting his responsibility. Just part of a “process” because there was one (and Fofana is now semi-regular for France).
Kovac speaks about standards, and walks the talk, by mentioning how Matazo who witnesses the same game as Kovac does from the seat above him, would be entitled to be frustrated at not coming on at that point.
In fact when Philippe Clément was appointed to replace Kovac midway through 2021/22 as Monaco tend to do, and in order to turn Monaco’s fortunes around (if ever need was felt - see where they are); his idea was rather to sit Tchouaméni deeper and use Fofana as a box to box player.
And involving much more club signing Jean Lucas, obviously (to great effect). In something more akin to 4-3-3.
Fofana has the ability to darting runs, especially in the channels.
Following up on flicks and other second or lose balls.
That makes him really suited to Premier League football.
Fofana’s right sided box to box game was exemplified with the contribution to beating PSG.
Monaco have made an habit of beating PSG in the past few seasons in what is supposedly the highest profile game in the country, as far as player quality is involved, but is more the “how can you make life the most difficult for yourself despite having a combined budget equivalent to the other 18 clubs’ ” - ico.
Another (non) Monaconsistent season
The current 2022/23 season has been a forgettable season for Monaco, about to miss out on any European qualification at all and boasting the 12th best defensive record, after the departure of Tchouaméni (last summer) and Badiashile in January.
But correlation isn’t causation, let me be abundantly clear.
Youssouf Fofana has been playing alongside the much more defensive minded Mohammed Camara or Eliott Matazo.
This is a fast break with Fofana’s trademark contribution: receive, carry it up at full pace and make the right decision come reaching final third.
Best of Both Worlds
Youssouf Fofana's game mixes the best from both Paris League / Academy world.
There’s no better school for ball mastery than Pole Espoir (INF)
There’s also no better school for gamemanship and real football than Paris’ Regional leagues.
Good thing is that Youssouf Fofana had worthwhile strenghening experiences in both
His time outside sanitized academy football means he’s also a strong presence able to get it back. Not featuring 85% possession teams for most of his player development curriculum mean that he won’t shirk a challenge.
(Yes, but is he a baller?)
Fofana’s ball mastery is consistently strong: first touch, passing range short and long, dribbling with sharp chops and shifts. He actually looks a different player, almost with unfolding legs when he gets on the ball, with a mix of power and ball mastery meaning that not every other play ends up with a rash tackle.
You’d imagine it does, but it really doesn’t.
When we talk about “problem solving”, “thinking outside the box”, of course it’s an interaction-friendly highlight reel (not mine). But it’s still neverthess fairly interesting to see how often Fofana reverts to deceiving drags backs, soles, change of direction, sombrero flicks to open up new options. Without ever showboating.
Yes, but can he defend
Unfolding midfielder
It’s not a stretch to say that Fofana is the kind of player that does more than his mere frame suggests, being almost 6ft1 (1m85).
However, you’d wonder how far he can reach the ball when he unfolds his leg to tackle like that.
Standard good defensive posture, toes, shoulders above feet at least.
And sensing the right movement to snap like a chameleon would catch a fly.
Youssouf Fofana can put out fires for his team.
Especially considering his ambition if he couldn’t become a footballer would be to become a fireman.
“Is he a 6 or a 8?”
Youssouf Fofana is a modern 442 midfielder, not a “destroyer 6”.
Amusing thing, on a side note, is that because he’s generally under the radar; you’ll find as many people wondering “can this 6 play” than “can this 8 sit”
Midfielders: list their skillset, and the “role” emerges out of it.
Don’t decide roles (and pre-empt the list of excuses for not doing half of what it takes)
One of the features I like is the trademark chop x interception x pass.
He combines the reading on the floor and timing in the air where his leap and ability to head clear is noticeable. Few headers end up on his toes.
He is deceptively quick, his sprinting motion (on toes, leaning forward) is not just for the show; he’s actually really quick.
Fofana was clocked at 30.7km/h (19mph) at the 2022 World Cup.
Most top players are actually quite quick anyway. Of course, being a pace aficionado I like looking at these raw numbers but it is the reading and anticipation that allows a player to be efficient at getting a head start. Brainless sheer pace isn’t a cheat code.
Knocking players off the ball
Fofana’s also got a nice blend of aggression and intent to go for the ball, without being (overly) nasty.
It’s interesting how Fofana uses his pivot leg to get in front, and hip to bump players out of the way to dispossess or nick the ball whilst rarely going to ground himself.
He’s actually hard to put off balance (because concrete hurts, always has, always will).
He’s the definition of a “ball winner”, which he does whilst standing his ground: by staying on his feet, he’s able to stay involved in the follow up.
Fofana is strong and quick, which the combination of makes him powerful
Calma, this isn’t the sport announcer’s bingo
Reaction time, dynamism and speed allows him to squeeze in quickly
Strength is key to slow down and stop, change direction, maintain posture
Power is the combination of the previous two
The comic strip on the left would be what to look at specifically, and the description helps to figure out what’s my blud waffling about.
As in: what do you tell players to do better when coaching.
Yell “do better” and they rarely do.
Lose ball comes from left to right, Monaco’s goal on the left.
Giwonden Bowdow attack to the left.
Basically, if your thighs are full of yoghurt (because not strong, or no fast twich muscle fibres), you can kiss goodbye to this kind of play.
Cigogne tes duels
Premier League teams put the ball in the air to compete in 50/50s, this fact is hard to overlook or discard as if you’d crack the secret code by piling up technicians below 6 feet.
A team is going to lose away at Luton, and it’s not even funny at this point to guess by what score Arsenal will.
There’s three things players need to compete:
Timing: reading where the ball is going to drop, and also take the preferential position and stick to it. It requires strength and the use of arms, to nudge players.
The reading is also about triggering the jump when the ball reaches its apex (highest point of the trajectory).
Heading: tall players are usually not that good in the air, because they either don’t need to jump much or that it was enough for all these years.
However, they need to be able to head clear with the forefront. Flicking the ball is one thing, but heading isn’t just about %.Jumping leap, to you know, lift off the ground at any point.
Nobody will outwit the game of association football, someone has to take care of winning the first ball.
Preferably not the centre backs getting drawn in the middle of the highway, and whose 30-40% share of lost headers (granted they win 60-70% as they should) end as flick ons playing the opposition through.
The covering CB clips him and it’s a DOGSO. Happens over and over again.
Data is a good benchmark, but is meant to complement the eye test and context.
If you play deepest in midfield (or in a team that forces the opponent to put the ball in the air so that they add some randomness and a chance that the coin drops to their benefit, rather to go out there and wonder if their Tesco Tekkers Busquets can dictate the game against Gundogan).
Only one coach takes the money and runs for the 5th time in 6 years with his four towering CBs, the one who revolutionizes the role of CB in midfield alongside Rodri, with a freak upfront.
It shall be about time that the penny would gently drop about what Casemiro, Fernandinho, Carrick, Mikel, Matic, Fabinho, Henderson or Arsenal’s #5 add to a team to stop them being an absolute laughing stock. Your turn, Chelsea.
As for Youssouf Fofana, playing in Strasbourg (famous for storks = cigognes), his numbers in 2019/20 before getting his move to Monaco were mightily impressive.
Winning between one and two per game at a 68% rate.
What we see after that is that he flies comfortably above the 50% treshold even if the volume of involvement is different.
Due to his more advanced position (and the fact that he will therefore compete against the 60-70% success backline juggernauts).
(Cigogne is a poor pun for gagne (=win), it’s obviously not a verb. Also, don’t mock regional accents, there’s actually a law against that in France).
Channelnanigans
Youssouf Fofana also has the very modern (or at least: worthwhile all the more these days) to be able to be a strong presence between both boxes but also down the channels to track markers. There’s midfielders (even defensively minded ones) who are a walking yellow card whenever they get involved in duels down the line.
I like how he sprints at players, this is a sight that influences opponents that know that he means business without doing violence.
Ballers who can ball, know how they’re going to shield the ball themselves.
So they know exactly how to counter that, it’s amusing to see each of every attempt from Balerdi to protect himself being shunted by Fofana.
Fofananigans
This is gamemanship, which I would include into “ball mastery”
It’s not about being nice or not. Kanté is expert at these things as well, Matic used to be really good (still is). Ballack, don’t bother. Essien, Mikel they’ve seen their lot of chancers trying to dispossess them. Gallagher draws two fouls per game, Ruben Loftus Cheek does it too.
Chelsea is just being woefully deficient at these kind of small things since they last competed for titles domestically (6 years without PL, like 6 Cup finals lost in a row?)
It’s all right and good to talk about 80+ passes midfielders, or zero point digit expected whatever to draw up scoreboard analysis and complain about bad luck or curses.
Fine margins everyone talks about are effectively racked up through this collection of un-noticeable (or blatant once you start paying attention) nudges, from central defenders, fullbacks, midfielders, wingers, strikers.
Everyone on the pitch, basically. That gives an edge in every individual match up.
Fofana can have a temper when decisions don’t go his way. This is a competitor midfielder, who however rarely gets over the line (also applies to his shots if we’re being honest), as much in terms of agressivity than trash talking referees.
From a disciplinary standpoint, Fofana’s return is fairly decent once you witness the type of performances he puts out and align that with a 21 yellow / 2 YY / 2 reds record in 180 professional games.
Fofana gets in the book less and less:
8 times in 2020/21 (one YY)
4 times in 2021/22
2 times in 2022/23 (but sent off)
A main contributing factor to this decrease obviously being his more advanced area of responsibility on the pitch (and Camara / Matazo / Tchouaméni doing the “dirty work” - that Fofana can do if required)
Yes, but can he attack
Some of the shoulder drops and shifts to beat players are good, any midfielder who looks like he’s unshackling himself from the centre circle house arrest (sometimes self inflicted due to a lack of ability) on certain plays has my attention.
Fofana certainly is one.
Good midfielders put on show 70% of what they can do, in the role they’re asked to perform.
When 100% of what a player can do only covers 70% of the requirements for the role, means they’re bang average.
Two ways midfielders (or “having this or that in one’s locker”) makes them top club material. Think Vincent Kompany’s top corner low xG attempt to seal a Premier League title. His role is not to… Bore off, point is, if he needs to, he can.
Some I can think of, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Essien didn’t need a shoehorn designed position to look good in 8 outfield positions.
Youssouf Fofana’s trademark pass would be that mid-range switch to open up the game to his right. He’s got a consistent ability to receive and spread it quickly, doesn’t require to adjust his footing, make a run in for a lame swerved pass to knock grass blades over.
This is the assist for Krépin Diatta, a good reception on his back (right) foot, powerfully spread out to find isolation out wide.
Strong academy ball mastery but fairly standard stuff otherwise.
First time passes are also a thing, evidence of the ability to be aware of one’s surroundings and resisting the temptation to dwell on the ball.
This is a farmers league assist that went pretty much under the radar, but nevertheless a nice first time weak foot one.
This also applies to lose ball in the air, where Fofana boasts a wide range of rainbow flicks and first time “Fàbregas” volleyed flicks (that never got due credit) such as this one to create a goalscoring chance against Angers.
However, Fofana also changes the picture with turns and carries, which opens up a new range of options to connect with team mates.
Some of the features to suceed at breakaways are simple like hello:
A small shift opens up the possibility to deliver a straight pass through goal.
Fofana is powerful, which means that the combination of strength x speed doesn’t require him 15 yards to find a semblance of pace.
Anytime he creates separation from himself, hecan follow up with
“chops” (cut the ball to change direction at an angle, usually with a small bounce)
“banana drags” (more hockey-like) to keep the ball under close control (shoulders above the ball, and keep it in the stride).
After getting away from Verratti’s OWLographic defending, see how he gets clear of anyone.
The deceiving change of direction confuses Kimpembe and allows to wrong foot him.
Point if: if you’re quick / powerful enough, there’s room for changes of direction.
If you’re slow af, quickest route might not even be enough.
Fofana has a quite measured and consistent ability to “break lines” and make solid choices in final third. He won’t give 15 assists per season, but he won’t start counter attacks for the other team on every other play either.
More on how to succeed at counter attacks
Ball retention, aforementionedly not about treating the football like a hot potato, involves rolling out opponents and taking them off the play.
Once the path has been cleared (strong midfielders are able to put tacklers off balance with a nudge), that opens up the doors of final third and the decision making involved.
This play is a frequent occurence in Fofana’s games, commiting the defence (squeeze) and delaying the release until the open player is wide open to receive in the best conditions.
Anything from inside, outside, right, left and even outside of the boot and toe poke bait will do as far as the final pass is involved.
Just like any talented footballer, reasonable enough to keep his best skills for where it matters, Fofana can be surprisingly effective in the box once he gets there.
It was assuredly frustrating (angering?) for Fofana that his solo effort against Angers, chasing and recovering his own (rare) turnover that he scrambled in after beating four players, was attributed to the defender as an own goal.
Fofana’s got a nice ability to draw fouls, not only because he’s an expert at doing them on the low key, but also because he won’t be receiving the ball flat like a blue. Always on the half turn, on the foot far from the defender, arms to shield and able to know when to tangle a leg behind to get clipped and escape pressure.
I would imagine he knows how to get out of telephone booths with creative skills, but he’s got the discipline not to get carried away and draw a professional foul when cornered instead of being a turnover hazard in his own half.
Or simply retain possession without ceding to the temptation to showboat.
Fofana’s got an ability to use the ball efficiently with every touch serving a purpose.
A stark contrast with say, Boubakary Soumaré, granted a rotation title winning CM with Lille in 2021, and a team mate of Youssouf Fofana for France' U20s.
But who couldn’t help spinning around, and adding un-necessary touches to every bit of standard play south of the channel, the litteral waffling midfielder, extra sauce, extra gravy, extra whipped cream to play a lame ass 10 yarder.
Soumaré has since become the second most boring CM in the Premier League at Leicester City, after Yves Bissouma.
Fofanallez les bleus
Youssouf Fofana took the train later than most.
The standard French talent pathway is so that after doing a Pole Espoir, or being at a pro club from age 12; they get signed (or stay) in a pro club from U16 onwards.
The first gathering of players at national level occurs at U16 for a round of friendlies.
That is not to say that being in a pro club gives better chances as opposed to not, but but it’s always amusing to see some famous footballing patronyms not making the cut at some point. Anyway
U17 who compete in the UEFA U17 Euros.
U18 squeezed in between, play the renowned Toulon Tournament
Youssouf Fofana was involved from that point onwards:
U19 play the UEFA U19 Euros. Fofana played (1) friendly
U20 play the FIFA U20 World Cup. Fofana played the 2019 edition (4) and friendlies (5)
U21 play the UEFA U21 Euros. Fofana only played (1) game vs Swizerland
Youssouf Fofana has since cemented his place in the French squad, possibly due to the absences of Kanté and Tchouaméni. But making him the next ones in the pecking order alongside Rabiot, Tchouaméni, whilst Camavinga has been on and off (and also used on the side of defence).
France (somehow) reached the World Cup final - without nominal fullbacks, with Fofana entering every game but England’s, starting against Tunisia and the semi final against Morocco.
France however but came short on penalties in an eventful final Youssouf Fofana entered into extra time.
He did not take a penalty in the shoot-out.
Whilst being named on the substitute bench for the next qualification round to the 2024 Euros, Fofana saw Tchouaméni-Rabiot then Rabiot-Camavinga form the midfield pair in the demolition of Holland and the narrow win in Ireland.
Data Room
Cherrypicked Youssouf Fofana numbers: (L1)
46 passes attempted, 81% acc.
5.7 long passes attempted, 75% acc.
5.3 progressive passes
2.8 tacles/game
60% dribblers tackled (2.5 attempted/90)
0.9 interceptions/game
1 – 1.6 – 1.5 dribbles attempted. 52-64-46% success (2020-23)
Youssouf Fofana's tidy uncooked scattered spaghetti progressive passmap using the McLachbot (ChicagoDmitry on twitter).
Several clusters identifiable:
spreading the ball out wide right
disguised passes to the D
switches / diagonals across box
Some possibly headed
Pizza time
A quick look at Youssouf Fofana's contribution to build up using mclachbot / @ChicagoDmitry (on twitter) pizza from 22-23
Plays more as a rupture box-to-box under P. Clément (2022-), and his returns for everything related to bringing the ball closer to goal are strong (passes, carries).
Another look, compared to the serie’s benchmark Moisés Caicedo.
Caicedo shows up as a better ball winner and safer passer.
Youssouf Fofana takes more risks (dribbles, and turnovers)
But it’s still Caicedo who manages to put a team mate in position to shoot one more time every 3 games compared to Fofana.
However, Fofana probably has a clearer and consistent involvement as the guy playing the pass before the chance/assist. Knowing he either gets it back, or changes the picture himself, this is a key tangible contribution to progressing the play.
As opposed to say, regista whose parcimonius yet glorious and essential contribution consists in playing the first five yarder of a 27-pass sequence that was leading to nothing until someone was actually bothered to make something happen by turning up pace and taking someone on. Strong twelfth cup of tea with the same teabag level of brewing.
Fofana plays as the most advanced midfielder out of fairly hopeless options to playmake/create, and behind Ben Yedder (or Golovin) who’s workrate off the ball have never been the strong suit (unlike Embolo and Volland).
In other words, maybe there’s extra expectations to playmake, and workload to pick up; albeit Monaco look very different granted they feature a striker who scores at a bigger rate as he does press, or the other way around.
I’d say that the mixed bag that Fofana’s stat sheets (or radars) results of being the one all action/fireman who hasn’t got his big move yet (Disasi being the other), in a team that is currently not even going to play Europa League Conference next season.
Looking at @smarterscout's proprietary metrics (scale is 0-99, see their FAQ) Youssouf Fofana's last 3 seasons shows excellent consistent numbers in defensive quality + aerials, increase in quantity.
Attacking metrics very strong especially this season
Fofana’s contract ends in 2024. He’s made an interview leaving the door open for a move.
He’s got 8 games for France NT now, and will be the rotation CM going forward.
Fofana came on in the World Cup final. Decision time will come soon: extend at Monaco or push for a move. Monaco already have Mohamed Camara in house, for the ball winner role (and not much else)
My oPiniOn
My take on Youssouf Fofana is as follows: I think he’s a really good player, and I wouldn’t say he’s reached his ceiling yet. In instance, I think he’s “got a great shot in him” even if that doesn’t necessarly translate into numbers for a couple of seasons.
He could score a handful of goals from range (and also create danger for goalkeepers, get corners etc… out of it, including rebounds).
Also, I would say that the concerns about “is he a 6-8-10-fugazi” would actually be the reason why I would look at him. Can play a variety of roles, he’s not “sitting” nor “box to box”, he mostly does what the game (and managers want).
He’s also a solid presence defensively, to knock players off the ball, agressive yet rarely booked, and is strong enough to read and win the first ball in the air.
Second ball collectors, that’s another job. Not the CBs, not the CMs.
The thing I need to weight in and would like to phrase as best as I can is:
He’s now a full French international and will assuredly look at a club where he would start week and week out like Arsenal (if they move on from their base midfielders), possibly Liverpool in order to back up his chances to start for France.
The incredible Kanté might a couple of International Tournaments ahead of him (but also maybe not but we’ve also seen Makélélé and Vieira playing tournaments at 34).
Tchouaméni and Rabiot are strong contenders; Camavinga performs well out of position at left back but will have sight sets on cementing his role centrally as he’s been doing in France’s last outing in Ireland.
Having players compete for postions is good and healthy; “see how Jorginho is a nailed on starter” in the only position he can play with Kanté and Kovacic being the only midfield persons in the entire football squad was probably not how Chelsea would take off in the League. And didn’t.
70pts with Sarri’s circuits, Lampard’s end to end ball, Tuchel’s handbrakeball.
You can have Fofana rotating with Kanté in a 38+cups game season, but depending on performances (without the requirement to preempt minutes allocation between Wednesday away in the Champions League and an early Saturday kick off), minutes could come slightly harder to come by.
Because you don’t take Enzo or Kanté off a team easily, granted the latter extends.
I could however see Fofana move for a fee circa 25-35 million due to the fact that he’s out of contract in 2024.
And that makes him a more reasonable option than say Ugarte, who’s 60 million fee seems to already be attached to an entire bouquet of “he’s more Kovacic”, “it’s not his role this and that” without guaranteeing premium performances despite the size of the fee.
I see Fofana as better than a backup, yet slightly below what it would take to win a league in a double pivot alongside Enzo. But I’m notoriously very harsh in my player evaluation (but also back myself re: talent identification) and I would be happy to be proven wrong on the latter assumption (the double pivot thing, not talent ID).
iS hE TiEmOuE bAkAyOkO 2.O ?
Both are Paris defensive midifelders who joined Rennes and Strasbourg respectively.
Bakayoko’s curriculum doesn’t involve INF Clairefontaine but Fofana’s does.
Hence the latter’s game being slightly more refined.
Bakayoko was the epitome of a “central midfielder”, not a DM, not a run around 8
He’s a Champions League semi finalist and Ligue 1 winner, whose forced integration whilst healing an ankle injury set him on a shaky path in 2017/18 which he never quite recovered from.
Fofana would be more of the box to box type, with room to score more goals but definitely does show more inventivity in his overal game.
Both are solid good players however, one unfortunate turn of events as for Bakayoko’s career doesn’t make anyone playing for Monaco a dud. Do better.
Bakayoko cost 40 million and played outstanding performance at Atletico or Spurs away, sometimes transfers don’t work out.
There’s no reasons to think Fofana wouldn’t fit in the Premier League; or worded differently, difficult to see in which particular aspect he’d look off the pace.
